Tony Burke rejects farmers’ claims that immigration changes will increase food prices
Summary
Tony Burke, an Australian Labor Party politician, said that changes to immigration rules will not raise food prices and will help farming by speeding up visa processing for backpackers. The National Farmers Federation warned that limiting temporary workers could hurt harvests and raise food costs. The plan balances worker availability with keeping immigration under control and avoiding harm to other sectors like healthcare and aged care.Key Facts
- Tony Burke unveiled new visa reforms to speed up processing for backpackers who work in agriculture.
- The National Farmers Federation said limits on temporary migrant workers could cause food prices to rise and harvests to be incomplete.
- Backpackers wanting to stay longer in Australia will face a lottery due to restricted places for years two and three on their visas.
- Burke said the plan supports multiple industries relying on overseas workers, such as healthcare and construction.
- About 100 new compliance officers and 250 extra immigration detention beds will be added to enforce visa rules.
- Burke stated that Australia’s immigration enforcement is less harsh than policies under the Trump administration in the U.S.
- Some refugee groups and the Greens criticized the increased immigration detention and restrictions on family members of foreign students.
- Major employers, including the Minerals Council, welcomed the reforms for their potential economic benefits.
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